What sources do you look to when you need to solve a complicated problem?
The interviewer wants to know that you are able to think outside the box, or even ask for help, when you are stuck on a complicated problem.
Maybe you look to a mentor or boss for advice. Perhaps you have handbooks, manuals and systems you turn to for help. Offer some relevant examples based on your industry. If you work in the medical field, you may turn to textbooks, online research, colleagues or even patient's history to find the right solution. If you work in customer service, you may ask the customer what they need in order to find the best way to solve the problem.
Show the interviewer that you are knowledgeable and equipped to handle these types of scenarios.
"When I am faced with a complicated problem, I will look to the resources that my current company has provided me. The answer is almost always in there. If it's more of a moral dilemma vs. a knowledge based dilemma, I will ask my supervisor for his thoughts and opinion since I value him as a mentor and expert in our industry."
"In order to solve a complex issue, I will reach out to a manager or mentor from a previous role to ask them how they've handled such issues in the past. I am always ready to dive back into our handbook, but these types of scenarios are often not covered there, which is why I really value a human, experiential approach. I know that there are so many folks in the industry who have so much to teach me and have probably already "been-there-done-that", so I love to utilize them as a resource."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
At my most recent position, when I needed to solve a very complicated problem, I would present my best plan of action to my bosses for their input as they were often privy to information I am not.
Amanda's Feedback
This is an answer that you can improve by showcasing your own problem-solving skills more clearly. Consider sharing a specific workplace example to better highlight your ability to implement an effective problem-solving process. How did you develop your plan of action? Did you rely on past experience, research, compliance with regulatory or quality guidelines, etc? Did you loop others into the process to consider alternative ideas or solutions? Don't forget to share the positive outcome you were able to achieve.
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